Ferrari SF25 vs McLaren MCL39: an in-depth telemetry analysis from FP2 at Silverstone

The second free practice session (FP2) for the 2025 Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone has confirmed an intense and highly competitive battle between Scuderia Ferrari and McLaren. While the McLaren Formula 1 Team remains the clear favorite on paper due to its recent strong performances and the characteristics of its car, Scuderia Ferrari has shown encouraging signs of improvement, suggesting that the Italian team might be able to stay close in the fight for victory. Let’s dive into the detailed telemetry data from FP2 by comparing the fastest laps of Lando Norris (1:25.816) and Charles Leclerc (1:26.038).

First Sector
Right at the start of the lap, the telemetry reveals one of the key areas where Ferrari had room for improvement earlier in the day: the rapid change of direction through Turns 1 and 2. Although McLaren continues to be the benchmark in this section, the engineers from Maranello have managed to enhance the dynamic response of the Ferrari SF-25. This allowed them to significantly reduce the gap from one-tenth of a second down to just two hundredths.

In the following complex known as “The Loop”, however, McLaren showed notable progress compared to the first free practice session. Charles Leclerc gained around one-tenth of a second in Turn 3, but Lando Norris quickly recovered with greater grip in the next corner. Unlike in FP1, Norris no longer loses time under traction and exits the corner with an advantage of nearly a quarter of a second heading into the next straight.

Second Sector
Turn 6 represents another section where Scuderia Ferrari focused its development between sessions, yielding positive results. In this medium-speed corner, the SF-25 now carries more speed through the apex, allowing Leclerc to gain a few hundredths of a second on Norris.

In Turn 7, Charles Leclerc employed a different driving style, braking earlier and sacrificing some cornering speed in favor of better traction on exit. However, this strategy did not pay off against an extremely stable and well-balanced McLaren MCL39. The loss in mid-corner speed outweighed the gain on exit, resulting in a net deficit of 0.12 seconds for the Ferrari driver in this section.

At the high-speed Copse corner, the difference lies in throttle modulation. Norris lifts off the throttle by 59%, while Leclerc keeps it fully open, a clear indication that the Monegasque driver feels confident in the car’s balance and grip through such a demanding corner.

In the fast and technical Maggots, Becketts, and Chapel sequence, Ferrari again proves to be highly competitive. Leclerc is able to keep the throttle open approximately 30% more than Norris during the rapid changes of direction. Additionally, a subtle tap on the brake pedal as he exits Turn 13 helps rotate the SF-25 more effectively, allowing the Ferrari driver to get back on the throttle earlier and improve traction down the Hangar Straight. Overall, Leclerc gains 0.15 seconds in this serpentine section of the track.

Third Sector
At the Stowe corner, the gap that previously favored McLaren has been greatly reduced compared to the morning session. The Ferrari car now tackles this fast right-hander at a comparable speed.

In Turn 16, Charles Leclerc brakes more decisively, gaining half a tenth at corner entry. However, Lando Norris regains the upper hand in the following Turn 17, restoring his advantage to approximately two-tenths of a second.

McLaren seems to have found a more effective setup in FP2, thanks in part to reverting to a previously tested and better-understood specification of the car’s floor. This likely made it easier for the engineers to fine-tune the balance of the MCL39. Given its technical superiority demonstrated throughout the season—and once again, albeit to a lesser extent, during this second free practice session—McLaren remains the clear favorite. The Silverstone Circuit also naturally suits the characteristics of their car, particularly in terms of aerodynamic efficiency and high-speed cornering performance.

Nevertheless, Scuderia Ferrari has made noticeable improvements in the sections where it had struggled during the first session. Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur also stated that the SF-25 is still far from performing at its best, indicating that the engineers and drivers believe there is still untapped potential in the car. With this in mind, the Maranello-based team will be working overnight to unlock even more performance in preparation for Saturday’s qualifying session and Sunday’s race at Silverstone.